Melon variety NUN 16108 MEM

ABSTRACT

The disclosure provides a new and distinct hybrid melon variety NUN 16108 MEM as well as seeds and plants and fruits thereof. NUN 16108 MEM is a non-sutured cantaloupe melon of the Harper subtype (i.e., having long shelf-life and good taste) with yellow skin and orange flesh, comprising resistance to Fusarium oxysporum melonis Race 0 (HR), Race 1 (HR), and Race 2 (HR), Podosphaera xanthii Race 1 (IR), Race 2 (IR), and Race 5 (IR), Golovinomyces cichoracearum (IR), and Aphis gossypii.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/695,437, filed Jul. 9, 2018, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure relates to the field of plant breeding and, morespecifically, to melon variety NUN 16108 MEM. The disclosure furtherrelates to vegetative reproductions of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM,methods for tissue culture of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM andregenerating a plant from such a tissue culture and to phenotypicvariants of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The goal of plant breeding is to combine various desirable traits in asingle variety or hybrid. Such desirable traits may include greateryield, resistance to diseases, insects or other pests, tolerance to heatand drought, better agronomic quality, higher nutritional value,enhanced growth rate, and improved fruit properties.

Breeding techniques take advantage of a plant's method of pollination.There are two general methods of pollination: a plant self-pollinates ifpollen from one flower is transferred to the same or another flower ofthe same genotype. A plant cross-pollinates if pollen comes to it from aflower of a different genotype. Plants that have been self-pollinatedand selected for (uniform) type over many generations become homozygousat almost all gene loci and produce a uniform population of truebreeding progeny of homozygous plants. A cross between two suchhomozygous plants of different lines produces a uniform population ofhybrid plants that are heterozygous for many gene loci. The extent ofheterozygosity in the hybrid is a function of the genetic distancebetween the parents. Conversely, a cross of two plants each heterozygousat a number of loci produces a segregating population of hybrid plantsthat differ genetically and are not uniform. The resultingnon-uniformity makes performance unpredictable.

The development of uniform varieties requires the development ofhomozygous inbred plants, the crossing of these inbred plants to makehybrids, and the evaluation of the hybrids resulting from the crosses.Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection are examples of breedingmethods that have been used to develop inbred plants from breedingpopulations. Those breeding methods combine the genetic backgrounds fromtwo or more plants or various other broad-based sources into breedingpools from which new lines are developed by selfing and selection ofdesired phenotypes. The new plants are evaluated to determine which havecommercial potential.

One crop species which has been subject to such breeding programs and isof particular value is the melon. It belongs to the Cucurbitacea familyand has originated in Asia. The plant is a large and sprawling annual,grown for its fruit.

The fruit of most species of Cucumis melo is often colored attractively,commonly yellow, orange or red. Melon can contain black seeds, which areconsidered undesirable for some uses. Common types include Persian,Honey Dew, Casaba, Crenshaw, Common/Summer and subtypes such as thepopular Galia, Canary, Western Shipper or the new Crispy types. Melon istypically consumed fresh as desserts, snacks, or in salads.

One of the leading consumers of melon is the United States withCalifornia as the major producer. Melon is available year-round butsupply peaks in August and ends in November.

While breeding efforts to date have provided a number of useful melonvarieties with beneficial traits, there remains a great need in the artfor new varieties with further improved traits. Such plants wouldbenefit farmers and consumers alike by improving crop yields and/orquality. Breeding objectives include varying the color, size, textureand flavor of the fruit, absence of seeds, optimizing flesh thickness,disease or pest resistance, yield, suitability to various climaticcircumstances, solid content (% dry matter), sugar content, and storageproperties.

SUMMARY OF VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure provides for melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, productsthereof, and methods of using the same. NUN 16108 MEM is a non-suturedcantaloupe melon of the Harper subtype (i.e., having long shelf-life andgood taste) with yellow skin and orange flesh, and suitable for the openfield.

In one aspect, the disclosure provides a seed of melon variety NUN 16108MEM, wherein a representative sample of said seed has been depositedunder Accession Number NCIMB 43406. The disclosure also provides for aplurality of seeds of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM. The melon seed ofvariety NUN 16108 MEM may be provided as an essentially homogeneouspopulation of melon seed. The population of seed of melon variety NUN16108 MEM may be particularly defined as essentially free from otherseed. The seed population may be grown into plants to provide anessentially homogeneous population of melon plants as described herein.

The disclosure also provides a plant grown from a seed of melon varietyNUN 16108 MEM and a plant part thereof. In another aspect, thedisclosure provides for a hybrid melon variety NUN 16108 MEM. Thedisclosure also provides for a progeny of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM.In another aspect, the disclosure provides a plant or a progenyretaining all or all but one, two or three of the “distinguishingcharacteristics” or all or all but one, two or three of the“morphological and physiological characteristics” of melon variety NUN16108 MEM, and methods for producing that plant or progeny.

In one aspect, the disclosure provides a plant or a progeny having allthe physiological and morphological characteristics of variety NUN 16108MEM when grown under the same environmental conditions. In anotheraspect, the plant or progeny has all or all but one, two or three of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of melon variety NUN16108 MEM when measured under the same environmental conditions ande.g., evaluated at significance levels of 1%, 5% or 10% significance(which can also be expressed as a p-value) for quantitativecharacteristics, wherein a representative sample of seed of variety NUN16108 MEM has been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB 43406. Inanother aspect, the plant or progeny has all or all but one, two orthree of the physiological and morphological characteristics as listedin Tables 1 and 2 for variety NUN 16108 MEM when measured under the sameenvironmental conditions and e.g., evaluated at significance levels of1%, 5% or 10% (which can also be expressed as a p-value) forquantitative characteristics.

In another aspect, the plant of variety NUN 16108 MEM or a progenythereof has 19, 20, or more or all of the following distinguishingcharacteristics as shown in Table 3: 1) longer mature blade length; 2)larger mature blade width; 3) shorter petiole length; 4) smaller petiolewidth; 5) longer peduncle length of young fruit; 6) shorter mature fruitlength; 7) larger mature fruit diameter; 8) heavier mature fruit weight9) smaller blossom scar diameter; 10) larger mature fruit medial; 11)smaller pistil scar; 12) darker greenish yellow color of rind atmaturity; 13) pale yellow color of net at edible maturity; 14) darkerorange color of flesh near cavity; 15) darker orange color of flesh nearcenter; 16) darker orange color of flesh near rind; 17) higherpenetrometer reading; 18) shorter seed cavity length; 19) smaller seedcavity width; and 20) higher number of seeds per fruit, when grown underthe same environmental conditions.

In another aspect, the plant of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, or a partthereof, or a progeny thereof comprises resistance to Fusarium oxysporummelonis Race 0 (HR), Race 1 (HR), and Race 2 (HR), Podosphaera xanthiiRace 1 (IR), Race 2 (IR), and Race 5 (IR), Golovinomyces cichoracearumIR, and Aphis gossypii, measured according to TG104/5.

In other aspects, the disclosure provides for a plant part obtained frommelon variety NUN 16108 MEM, wherein said plant part is: a fruit, aharvested fruit, a part of a fruit, a leaf, a part of a leaf, pollen, anovule, a cell, a petiole, a shoot or a part thereof, a stem or a partthereof, a root or a part thereof, a root tip, a cutting, a seed, a partof a seed, seed coat or another maternal tissue which is part of a seedgrown on said variety, a hypocotyl, cotyledon, a scion, a stock, arootstock, a pistil, an anther, or a flower or a part thereof. Fruitsare particularly important plant parts. In another aspect, the plantpart obtained from melon variety NUN 16108 MEM is a cell, optionally acell in a cell or tissue culture. That cell may be grown into a plant ofvariety NUN 16108 MEM.

The disclosure also provides a cell culture of melon variety NUN 16108MEM, and a plant regenerated from melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, whichplant has all the characteristics of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, whengrown under the same environmental conditions, as well as methods forculturing and regenerating melon variety NUN 16108 MEM. Alternatively, aregenerated plant may have one characteristic that is different frommelon variety NUN 16108 MEM.

The disclosure further provides a vegetatively propagated plant ofvariety NUN 16108 MEM having all or all but one, two or three of themorphological and physiological characteristics of melon variety NUN16108 MEM, when grown under the same environmental conditions.

The disclosure furthermore provides a melon fruit produced on a plantgrown from a seed of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM.

In another aspect, the disclosure provides a seed growing or grown on aplant of variety NUN 16108 MEM (i.e., produced after pollination of theflower of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the fruit of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM.

FIG. 2 shows the mature fruit (cross section) of melon variety NUN 16108MEM.

DEFINITIONS

“Melon” or “muskmelon” refers herein to plants of the species Cucumismelo, and fruits thereof. The most commonly eaten part of a melon is thefruit or berry, also known as pepo. The fruit comprises exocarp,mesocarp, endocarp or seed cavity, hypanthium tissue and optionallyseed. Exocarp, mesocarp, endocarp or seed cavity, hypanthium tissue, andseed coat of the seed are maternal tissues, so they are geneticallyidentical to the plant on which they grow.

“Cultivated melon” refers to plants of Cucumis melo (e.g., varieties,breeding lines or cultivars of the species C. melo), cultivated byhumans and having good agronomic characteristics.

“Cantaloupe melon” refers to orange-fleshed melons.

The terms “melon plant designated NUN 16108 MEM,” “NUN 16108 MEM,” “NUN16108,” “NUN 16108 F1,” “16108 MEM” or “melon 16108” are usedinterchangeably herein and refer to a melon plant of variety NUN 16108MEM, representative seed of which has been deposited under AccessionNumber NCIMB 43406.

A “seed of NUN 16108 MEM” refers to a melon seed which can be grown intoa plant of variety NUN 16108 MEM, wherein a representative sample ofviable seed has been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB 43406. Aseed can be in any stage of maturity, for example, a mature, viableseed, or an immature, non-viable seed. A seed comprises an embryo andmaternal tissues.

An “embryo of NUN 16108 MEM” refers to a “F1 hybrid embryo” as presentin a seed of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, a representative sample ofsaid seed has been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB 43406.

A “seed grown on NUN 16108 MEM” refers to a seed grown on a mature plantof variety NUN 16108 MEM or inside a fruit of melon variety NUN 16108MEM. The “seed grown on NUN 16108 MEM” contains tissues and DNA of thematernal parent, melon variety NUN 16108 MEM. The “seed grown on NUN16108 MEM” contains an F1 embryo. When said seed is planted, it growsinto a first generation progeny plant of variety NUN 16108 MEM.

A “fruit of NUN 16108 MEM” refers to a fruit containing maternal tissuesof melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, as deposited under Accession NumberNCIMB 43406. In one option, the fruit contains seed grown on melonvariety NUN 16108 MEM. In another option, the fruit does not containseed, so the fruit is parthenocarpic. The skilled person is familiarwith methods for inducing parthenocarpy. Those methods comprisechemically or genetically inducing parthenocarpy. Compounds suitable forchemically inducing parthenocarpy comprise auxins, gibberellins andcytokinins. Methods for genetically inducing parthenocarpy comprise themethods described in US2017/0335339, US2017/0240913, and US2017/0071145.A fruit can be in any stage of maturity, for example, a mature fruit inthe yellow stage comprising viable seed, or an immature fruit in theedible green stage comprising non-viable seed.

An “essentially homogeneous population of melon seed” is a population ofseeds where at least 97%, 98%, 99% or more of the total population ofseed are seeds of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM.

An “essentially homogeneous population of melon plants” is a populationof plants where at least 97%, 98%, 99% or more of the total populationof plants are plants of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM.

The phrase “essentially free from other seed” refers to a population ofseed where less than 3%, 2%, 1% or less of the total population of seedis seed that is not a melon seed or, in another aspect, less than 3%,2%, 1% or less of the total population of seed is seed that is not seedof melon variety NUN 16108 MEM.

“Tissue culture” or “cell culture” refers to a composition comprisingisolated cells of the same or a different type or a collection of suchcells organized into parts of a plant. Tissue culture of melon andregeneration of plants therefrom is well known and widely published(see, e.g., Ren et al., In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol. Plant (2013)49:223-229; Colijn-Hooymans (1994), Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture39: 211-217). Similarly, methods of preparing cell cultures are known inthe art.

“USDA descriptors” are the plant variety descriptors described for melonin the “Objective description of Variety—Muskmelon/Cantaloupe (Cucumismelo L.)”, as published by the US Department of Agriculture,Agricultural Marketing Service, Plant Variety Protection Office,Beltsville, Md. 20705 and which can be downloaded from the world-wideweb at ams.usda.gov/under services/plant-variety-protection/pvpo-c-formsunder muskmelon. “Non-USDA descriptors” are other descriptors suitablefor describing melon.

“UPOV descriptors” are the plant variety descriptors described for melonin the “Guidelines for the Conduct of Tests for Distinctness, Uniformityand Stability, TG/104/5 (Geneva 2006, as last updated in 2014-04-09), aspublished by UPOV (International Union for the Protection of NewVarieties and Plants) and which can be downloaded from the world-wideweb at upov.int/edocs/tgdocs/en/tg104.pdf and is herein incorporated byreference in its entirety. Likewise, “UPOV methods” to determinespecific parameters for the characterization of melon are described atupov.int.

“RHS” or “RHS color chart” refers to the color chart of the RoyalHorticultural Society (UK), which publishes a botanical color chartquantitatively identifying colors by a defined numbering system. Thechart may be purchased from Royal Horticulture Society Enterprise Ltd.RHS Garden; Wisley, Woking; Surrey GU236QB, UK, e.g., the RHS colorchart 2007.

“Plant part” includes any part of a plant, such as a plant organ (e.g.,harvested or non-harvested fruits), a plant cell, a plant protoplast, aplant cell tissue culture or a tissue culture from which a whole plantcan be regenerated, a plant cell that is intact in a plant, a clone, amicropropagation, plant callus, a plant cell clump, a plant transplant,a vegetative propagation, a seedling, a fruit, a harvested fruit, a partof a fruit, a leaf, a part of a leaf, pollen, an ovule, an embryo, apetiole, a shoot or a part thereof, a stem or a part thereof, a root ora part thereof, a root tip, a cutting, a seed, a part of a seed,hypocotyl, cotyledon, a scion, a graft, a stock, a rootstock, a pistil,an anther, and a flower or parts of any of these and the like. Seed canbe mature or immature. Pollen or ovules may be viable or non-viable.Also, any developmental stage is included, such as seedlings, cuttingsprior or after rooting, mature plants or leaves. Alternatively, a plantpart may also include a plant seed which comprises maternal tissues ofmelon variety NUN 16108 MEM and an embryo having one or two sets ofchromosomes derived from the parent plant, e.g., from melon variety NUN16108 MEM. Such an embryo comprises two sets of chromosomes derived frommelon variety NUN 16108 MEM, if it is produced from self-pollination ofsaid variety, while an embryo derived from cross-fertilization of melonvariety NUN 16108 MEM, will comprise only one set of chromosomes fromsaid variety.

“Reference Variety for NUN 16108 MEM” refers herein to variety NUN 26191MEM, which has been planted in a trial together with melon variety NUN16108 MEM. The characteristics of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM werecompared to the characteristics of the Reference Variety as shown inTables 1 and 2. The distinguishing characteristics between melon varietyNUN 16108 MEM and the Reference Variety are shown in Table 3.

“Rootstock” or “stock” refers to the plant selected for its root system,in particular for the resistance of the roots to diseases or stress(e.g., heat, cold, salinity etc.). Generally, the quality of the fruitof the plant providing the rootstock is less important.

“Scion” refers to a part of the plant attached to the rootstock. Thisplant is selected for its stems, leaves, flowers, or fruits. The scioncontains the desired genes to be duplicated in future production by thestock/scion plant and may produce the desired melon fruit.

“Stock/scion” or “grafted plant” refers to a melon plant comprising arootstock from one plant grafted to a scion from another plant.

“Harvest maturity” is referred to as the stage at which a melon fruit isripe or ready for harvest or the optimal time to harvest the fruit forthe market, for processing or for consumption. In one aspect, harvestmaturity is the stage which allows proper completion of the normalripening.

“Flavor” refers to the sensory impression of a food or other substance,especially a melon fruit or fruit part (fruit flesh) and is determinedmainly by the chemical senses of taste and smell. Flavor is influencedby texture properties and by volatile and/or non-volatile chemicalcomponents (organic acids, lipids, carbohydrates, salts etc.).

“Aroma” refers to smell (or odor) characteristics of melon fruits orfruit parts (fruit flesh).

“Harvested plant material” refers herein to plant parts (e.g., fruitsdetached from the whole plant), which have been collected for furtherstorage and/or further use.

“Yield” means the total weight of all melon fruits harvested per hectareof a particular line or variety. It is understood that “yield” expressedas weight of all melon fruits harvested per hectare can be obtained bymultiplying the number of plants per hectare times the “yield perplant”.

“Marketable yield” means the total weight of all marketable melonfruits, especially fruit which is not cracked, damaged or diseased,harvested per hectare of a particular line or variety. A “marketablefruit” is a fruit that has commercial value.

A plant having “all the physiological and morphological characteristics”of a referred-to-plant means a plant showing the physiological andmorphological characteristics of the referred-to-plant when grown underthe same environmental conditions, preferably in the same experiment;the referred-to-plant can be a plant from which it was derived, e.g.,the progeny plant, the progenitor plant, the parent, the recurrentparent, the plant used for tissue- or cell culture, etc. A physiologicalor morphological characteristic can be a numerical characteristic or anon-numerical characteristic. In one aspect, a plant has “all but one,two or three of the physiological and morphological characteristics” ofa referred-to-plant, or “all the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics” of Tables 1 and 2 or “all or all but one, two or threeof the physiological and morphological characteristics” of Tables 1 and2.

The physiological and/or morphological characteristics mentioned aboveare commonly evaluated at significance levels of 1%, 5% or 10% if theyare numerical (quantitative), or for having an identical degree (ortype) if not numerical (not quantitative), if measured under the sameenvironmental conditions. For example, a progeny plant or a Single LocusConverted plant or a mutated plant of variety NUN 16108 MEM, may haveone or more (or all) of the essential physiological and/or morphologicalcharacteristics of said variety listed in Tables 1 and 2, as determinedat the 5% significance level (i.e., p<0.05), when grown under the sameenvironmental conditions.

“Distinguishing characteristics” or “distinguishing morphological and/orphysiological characteristics” refers herein to the characteristicswhich distinguish the new variety from other melon varieties, such asthe Reference Variety (i.e., are different), when grown under the sameenvironmental conditions. The distinguishing characteristics betweenmelon variety NUN 16108 MEM and its Reference Variety are describedherein and can be seen in Table 3. When comparing melon variety NUN16108 MEM to other varieties, the distinguishing characteristics may bedifferent. In one aspect, the distinguishing characteristics maytherefore include one, two, three or more (or all) of thecharacteristics listed in Tables 1 and 2. All numerical distinguishingcharacteristics are statistically significantly different at p<0.05between melon variety NUN 16108 MEM and the other variety (e.g., theReference Variety).

Melon variety NUN 16108 MEM has the following distinguishingcharacteristics when compared to the Reference Variety as shown in Table3: 1) longer mature blade length; 2) larger mature blade width; 3)shorter petiole length; 4) smaller petiole width; 5) longer pedunclelength of young fruit 6) shorter mature fruit length; 7) larger maturefruit diameter; 8) heavier mature fruit weight; 9) smaller blossom scardiameter; 10) larger mature fruit medial; 11) smaller pistil scar; 12)darker greenish yellow color of rind at maturity; 13) pale yellow colorof net at edible maturity; 14) darker orange color of flesh near cavity;15) darker orange color of flesh near center; 16) darker orange color offlesh near rind; 17) higher penetrometer reading; 18) shorter seedcavity length; 19) smaller seed cavity width; and 20) higher number ofseeds per fruit, when grown under the same environmental conditions.

Thus, a melon plant “comprising the distinguishing characteristics ofmelon variety NUN 16108 MEM” (such as a progeny plant) refers herein toa plant which does not differ significantly from said variety in thedistinguishing characteristics above. Therefore, in one aspect, thedisclosure provides a plant which does not differ significantly frommelon variety NUN 16108 MEM in the distinguishing characteristics above.

Similarity and differences between two different plant lines orvarieties can be determined by comparing the number of morphologicaland/or physiological characteristics that are the same (i.e.,statistically not significantly different) or that are different (i.e.,statistically significantly different) between the two plant lines orvarieties using plants grown under the same environmental conditions. Anumerical characteristic is considered to be “the same” when the valuefor a numeric characteristic is not significantly different at the 1%(p<0.01) or 5% (p<0.05) significance level, using one way analysis ofvariance (ANOVA), a standard method known to the skilled person.Non-numerical or “degree” or “type” characteristic is considered “thesame” when the values have the same “degree” or “type” when scored usingUSDA and/or UPOV descriptors, if the plants are grown under the sameenvironmental conditions.

A “plant line” is, for example, a breeding line which can be used todevelop one or more varieties. A breeding line is typically highlyhomozygous.

“Hybrid variety” or “F1 hybrid” refers to the seeds harvested fromcrossing two inbred (nearly homozygous) parental lines. For example, thefemale parent is pollinated with pollen of the male parent to producehybrid (F1) seeds on the female parent.

“Regeneration” refers to the development of a plant from cell culture ortissue culture or vegetative propagation.

“Vegetative propagation,” “vegetative reproduction,” or “clonalpropagation” are used interchangeably herein and mean a method of takinga plant part and inducing or allowing that plant part to form at leastroots, and also refer to the plant or plantlet obtained by that method.Optionally, the vegetative propagation is grown into a mature plant. Theskilled person is aware of what plant parts are suitable for use in themethod.

“Crossing” refers to the mating of two parent plants. The termencompasses “cross-pollination” and “selfing”.

“Selfing” refers to self-pollination of a plant, i.e., the transfer ofpollen from the anther to the stigma of the same plant.

“Cross-pollination” refers to the fertilization by the union of twogametes from different plants.

As used herein, the terms “resistance” and “tolerance” are usedinterchangeably to describe plants that show no symptoms orsignificantly reduced symptoms to a specified biotic pest, pathogen,abiotic influence or environmental condition compared to a susceptibleplant. These terms are optionally also used to describe plants showingsome symptoms but that are still able to produce marketable product withan acceptable yield.

The term “traditional breeding techniques” encompasses herein crossing,selfing, selection, doubled haploid production, embryo rescue,protoplast fusion, marker assisted selection, mutation breeding etc. asknown to the breeder (i.e., methods other than geneticmodification/transformation/transgenic methods), by which, for example,a genetically heritable trait can be transferred from one melon line orvariety to another.

“Backcrossing” is a traditional breeding technique used to introduce atrait into a plant line or variety. The plant containing the trait iscalled the donor plant and the plant into which the trait is transferredis called the recurrent parent. An initial cross is made between thedonor parent and the recurrent parent to produce a progeny plant.Progeny plants which have the trait are then crossed to the recurrentparent. After several generations of backcrossing and/or selfing therecurrent parent comprises the trait of the donor. The plant generatedin this way may be referred to as a “single trait converted plant”. Thetechnique can also be used on a parental line of a hybrid.

“Progeny” as used herein refers to a plant obtained from a plantdesignated NUN 16108 MEM. A progeny may be obtained by regeneration ofcell culture or tissue culture or parts of a plant of said variety orselfing of a plant of said variety or by producing seeds of a plant ofsaid variety. In further aspects, progeny may also encompass plantsobtained from crossing of at least one plant of said variety withanother melon plant of the same variety or another variety or line, orwith wild melon plants. A progeny may comprise a mutation or atransgene. A “first generation progeny” is the progeny directly derivedfrom, obtained from, obtainable from or derivable from the parent plantby, e.g., traditional breeding methods (selfing and/orcross-pollinating) or regeneration (optionally combined withtransformation or mutation). Thus, a plant of variety NUN 16108 MEM isthe male parent, the female parent or both of a first generation progenyof melon variety NUN 16108 MEM. Progeny may have all the physiologicaland morphological characteristics of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, whengrown under the same environmental conditions. Using methods such asbackcrossing, recurrent selection, mutation or transformation, one ormore specific characteristics may be introduced into said variety, toprovide or a plant comprising all but 1, 2, or 3 of the morphologicaland physiological characteristics of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM.

The terms “gene converted” or “conversion plant” or “single locusconverted plant” in this context refer to melon plants which aredeveloped by traditional breeding techniques, e.g., backcrossing, or viagenetic engineering or through mutation breeding, wherein essentiallyall of the desired morphological and physiological characteristics ofthe parent variety or line are recovered, in addition to the one or morecharacteristics introduced into the parent via e.g., the backcrossingtechnique (optionally including reverse breeding or reverse synthesis ofbreeding lines). It is understood that not only the addition of afurther characteristic (e.g., addition of gene conferring a furthercharacteristic, such as a disease resistance gene), but also thereplacement/modification of an existing characteristic by a differentcharacteristic is encompassed herein (e.g., mutant allele of a gene canmodify the phenotype of a characteristic).

Likewise, a “Single Locus Converted (Conversion) Plant” refers to plantsdeveloped by plant breeding techniques comprising or consisting ofmutation breeding and/or by genetic transformation and/or by traditionalbreeding techniques, such as backcrossing, wherein essentially all ofthe desired morphological and physiological characteristics of a melonvariety are recovered in addition to the characteristics of the singlelocus having been transferred into the—variety via above-mentionedtechnique, or wherein the morphological and physiological characteristicof the variety has been replaced/modified in the variety. In case of ahybrid, the gene may be introduced, or modified, in the male or femaleparental line.

“Average” refers herein to the arithmetic mean.

The term “mean” refers to the arithmetic mean of several measurements.The skilled person understands that the appearance of a plant depends tosome extent on the growing conditions of said plant. Thus, the skilledperson understands suitable growing conditions for melon variety NUN16108 MEM. The mean, if not indicated otherwise within this application,refers to the arithmetic mean of measurements on at least 10 different,randomly selected plants of a variety or line.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure relates to a plant of variety NUN 16108 MEM, wherein arepresentative sample of seeds of said variety has been deposited underthe Budapest Treaty, with Accession number NCIMB 43406. NUN 16108 MEM isa non-sutured cantaloupe melon of the Harper subtype (i.e., having longshelf-life and good taste) with yellow skin and orange flesh, andsuitable for the open field.

The disclosure also relates to a seed of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM,wherein a representative sample of said seed has been deposited underthe Budapest Treaty, with Accession number NCIMB 43406.

In another aspect, the disclosure provides for a plant part of varietyNUN 16108 MEM, such as a fruit, a representative sample of seed fromsaid variety has been deposited under the Budapest Treaty, withAccession number NCIMB 43406.

In another aspect, a seed of hybrid variety NUN 16108 MEM is obtainableby crossing the male parent of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM with thefemale parent of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM and harvesting the seedsproduced on the female parent. The resultant seeds of said variety canbe grown to produce plants of said variety. In one aspect, a seed or aplurality of seeds of said variety are packaged into a container of anysize or type (e.g., bags, cartons, cans, etc.). The seed may bedisinfected, primed and/or treated with various compounds, such as seedcoatings or crop protection compounds. The seed produces a plant ofvariety NUN 16108 MEM.

Also provided is a plant of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, or a fruit orother plant part thereof, produced from a seed, wherein a representativesample of said seeds has been deposited under the Budapest Treaty, withAccession Number NCIMB 43406.

Also provided is a plant part obtained from variety NUN 16108 MEM,wherein said plant part is a fruit, a harvested fruit, a part of afruit, a leaf, a part of a leaf, pollen, an ovule, a cell, a petiole, ashoot or a part thereof, a stem or a part thereof, a root or a partthereof, a root tip, a cutting, a seed, a part of a seed, seed coat oranother maternal tissue which is part of a seed grown on said variety, ahypocotyl, cotyledon, a scion, a stock, a rootstock, a pistil, ananther, and a flower or a part thereof. Fruits are particularlyimportant plant parts. Fruits may be parthenocarpic, or seedless, orcontain immature or nonviable seeds, or contain viable seeds. In afurther aspect, the plant part obtained from melon variety NUN 16108MEM, is a cell, optionally a cell in a cell or tissue culture. That cellmay be grown into a plant of variety NUN 16108 MEM. A part of melonvariety NUN 16108 MEM (or of a progeny of that variety or of a planthaving all physiological and/or morphological characteristics but one,two or three of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM) further encompasses anycells, tissues, organs obtainable from the seedlings or plants in anystage of maturity.

The disclosure also provides for a food or feed product or a processedproduct comprising or consisting of a plant part described herein.Preferably, the plant part is a melon fruit or part thereof and/or anextract from a fruit or another plant part described herein comprisingat least one cell of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM. The food or feedproduct may be fresh or processed, e.g., dried, grinded, powdered,pickled, chopped, cooked, roasted, in a sauce, in a sandwich, pasted,puréed or concentrated, juiced, sliced, canned, steamed, boiled, fried,blanched or frozen, etc.

Such a plant part of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM can be stored and/orprocessed further. The disclosure thus also provides for a food or feedproduct comprising one or more of such parts, such as canned, chopped,cooked, roasted, in a sauce, in a sandwich, pasted, puréed orconcentrated, juiced, frozen, dried, pickled, or powdered melon fruitfrom melon variety NUN 16108 MEM or from progeny of said variety, orfrom a derived variety, such as a plant having all but one, two or threephysiological and/or morphological characteristics of melon variety NUN16108 MEM.

In another aspect, the disclosure provides for a melon fruit of varietyNUN 16108 MEM, or part of a fruit of said variety. The fruit can be inany stage of maturity, for example, immature or mature. In anotherembodiment, the disclosure provides for a container comprising orconsisting of a plurality of harvested melon fruits or parts of fruitsof said variety, or fruits of progeny thereof, or fruits of a derivedvariety.

Marketable fruits are generally sorted by size and quality afterharvest. Alternatively, the fruits can be sorted by expected shelf life,pH or Brix.

In another aspect, the plant, plant part or seed of melon variety NUN16108 MEM is inside one or more containers. For example, the disclosureprovides containers such as cans, boxes, crates, bags, cartons, ModifiedAtmosphere Packaging, films (e.g., biodegradable films), etc. comprisinga plant or part of a plant (fresh and/or processed) or a seed of melonvariety NUN 16108 MEM. In a particular aspect, the container comprises aplurality of seeds of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, or a plurality ofplant parts of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM.

The disclosure further relates to a melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, whichwhen compared to its Reference Variety has the following distinguishingcharacteristics as shown in Table 3: 1) longer mature blade length; 2)larger mature blade width; 3) shorter petiole length; 4) smaller petiolewidth; 5) longer peduncle length of young fruit; 6) shorter mature fruitlength; 7) larger mature fruit diameter; 8) heavier mature fruit weight9) smaller blossom scar diameter; 10) larger mature fruit medial; 11)smaller pistil scar; 12) darker greenish yellow color of rind atmaturity; 13) pale yellow color of net at edible maturity; 14) darkerorange color of flesh near cavity; 15) darker orange color of flesh nearcenter; 16) darker orange color of flesh near rind; 17) higherpenetrometer reading; 18) shorter seed cavity length; 19) smaller seedcavity width; and 20) higher number of seeds per fruit, where thecharacteristics are determined at the 5% significance level for plantsgrown under the same environmental conditions. Also encompassed areparts of that plant.

In one aspect, a plant of variety NUN 16108 MEM or a progeny plantthereof, comprises all of the morphological and/or physiologicalcharacteristics (i.e., average values of characteristics, as indicatedon the USDA Objective description of variety—melon (unless indicatedotherwise)) as shown in Tables 1 and 2, where the characteristics aredetermined at the 5% significance level for plants grown under the sameenvironmental conditions. A part of this plant is also provided.

In another aspect, NUN 16108 MEM comprises resistance to Fusariumoxysporum melonis Race 0 (HR), Race 1 (HR), and Race 2 (HR), Podosphaeraxanthii Race 1 (IR), Race 2 (IR), and Race 5 (IR), Golovinomycescichoracearum IR, and Aphis gossypii, measured according to UPOVstandards described in TG/104/5.

The disclosure further provides a melon plant which does not differ fromthe physiological and morphological characteristics of the plant ofvariety NUN 16108 MEM as determined at the 1%, 2%, 3%, 4% or 5%significance level when grown under the same environmental conditions.In a particular aspect, the plants are measured in the same trial (e.g.,the trial is conducted as recommended by the USDA or UPOV). Thedisclosure also comprises a part of said plant, preferably a fruit orpart thereof.

The disclosure also provides a tissue or cell culture comprising cellsof melon variety NUN 16108 MEM. Such a tissue culture can, for example,be grown on plates or in liquid culture, or be frozen for long termstorage. The cells of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM used to start theculture can be selected from any plant part suitable for vegetativereproduction, or in a particular aspect can be cells of an embryo,meristem, a cotyledon, a hypocotyl, pollen, a leaf, an anther, a root, aroot tip, a pistil, a petiole, a flower, a fruit, seed or a stem. Inanother particular aspect, the tissue culture does not containsomaclonal variation or has reduced somaclonal variation. The skilledperson is familiar with methods to reduce or prevent somaclonalvariation, including regular reinitiation.

In one aspect, the disclosure provides a melon plant regenerated fromthe tissue or cell culture of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, wherein theregenerated plant is not significantly different from melon variety NUN16108 MEM, in all, or all but one, two or three, of the physiologicaland morphological characteristics (e.g., determined at the 5%significance level when grown under the same environmental conditions).Optionally, the plant has one, two or three of the physiological andmorphological characteristics that are affected by a mutation or bytransformation. In another aspect, the disclosure provides a melon plantregenerated from the tissue or cell culture of melon variety NUN 16108MEM, wherein the plant has all of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of said variety determined (e.g., at the 5% significancelevel) when grown under the same environmental conditions. Similarity ordifference of a characteristic is determined by measuring thatcharacteristics on a representative number of plants grown under thesame environmental conditions, determining whether type/degreecharacteristics are the same and determining whether numericalcharacteristics are different at the 5% significance level.

Melon variety NUN 16108 MEM or its progeny, or a plant having allphysiological and/or morphological characteristics but one, two or threewhich are different from those of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, can alsobe reproduced using vegetative reproduction methods. Therefore, thedisclosure provides for a method of producing a plant, or a plant part,of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, comprising vegetative propagation ofsaid variety. Vegetative propagation comprises regenerating a wholeplant from a plant part of NUN 16108 MEM or from a progeny or from or aplant having all physiological and/or morphological characteristics ofsaid variety but one, two or three different characteristics, such as acutting, a cell culture or a tissue culture.

The disclosure also provides methods of vegetatively propagating a partof the plant of the variety NUN 16108 MEM. In certain aspects, themethod comprises: (a) cultivating tissue or cells capable of beingpropagated from melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, to obtain proliferatedshoots; and (b) rooting said proliferated shoots, to obtain rootedplantlets. Steps (a) and (b) may also be reversed, i.e., firstcultivating said tissue to obtain roots and then cultivating the tissueto obtain shoots, thereby obtaining rooted plantlets. The rootedplantlets may then be further grown, to obtain plants. In oneembodiment, the method further comprises step (c) growing plants fromsaid rooted plantlets. Therefore, the method also comprises regeneratinga whole plant from a part of the plant of variety NUN 16108 MEM. In aparticular aspect, the part of the plant to be propagated is a cutting,a cell culture or a tissue culture.

The disclosure also provides for a vegetatively propagated plant ofvariety NUN 16108 MEM, (or from progeny of melon variety NUN 16108 MEMor from a plant having all but one, two or three physiological and/ormorphological characteristics of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM), whereinthe plant has all of the morphological and physiological characteristicsof melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, when the characteristics are determined(e.g., at the 5% significance level) for plants grown under the sameconditions. In another aspect, the propagated plant has all but one, twoor three of the morphological and physiological characteristics of melonvariety NUN 16108 MEM, when the characteristics are determined (e.g., atthe 5% significance level) for plants grown under the same conditions. Apart of said propagated plant or said propagated plant with one, two orthree differences is also provided.

In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method for producing amelon plant part, such as a fruit, comprising growing a plant of varietyNUN 16108 MEM until it sets at least one fruit, and collecting thefruit. Preferably, the fruit is collected at harvest maturity. Inanother aspect, the fruit is collected when the seed is ripe. In aparticular aspect, all fruits on a truss can be harvested together. Inanother particular aspect, all fruit on a melon plant can be harvestedat the same time. A plant of variety NUN 16108 MEM can be produced byseeding directly in the soil (e.g., the field) or by germinating theseeds in a controlled environment (e.g., greenhouses) and optionallythen transplanting the seedlings into the field (see, e.g.,https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/7209.pdf). For example, a seed is sowninto a prepared seed bed in a field where the plant remains for itsentire life. Alternatively, the melon seed may be planted through ablack plastic mulch. The dark plastic will absorb heat from the sun,warming the soil early. It will also help to conserve moisture duringthe growing season, controls weeds, and makes harvesting easier andcleaner (see, e.g., https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/7218.pdf). Meloncan also be grown entirely in greenhouses.

In still another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of producing amelon plant, comprising crossing a plant of variety NUN 16108 MEM with asecond melon plant at least once, allowing seed to develop andoptionally harvesting said progeny seed. The skilled person can selectprogeny from said crossing. Optionally, the progeny (grown from theprogeny seed) is crossed twice, thrice, or four, five, six or seventimes, and allowed to set seed. In one aspect, the first “crossing”further comprises planting seeds of a first and a second parent melonplant, often in proximity so that pollination will occur; for example,mediated by insect vectors. Alternatively, pollen can be transferredmanually. Where the plant is self-pollinated, pollination may occurwithout the need for direct human intervention other than plantcultivation. After pollination the plant can produce seed.

In yet another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of producing aplant, comprising selfing melon variety NUN 16108 MEM one or more times,and selecting a progeny plant from said selfing. In one aspect, theprogeny plant retains all or all but one, two or three of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of melon variety NUN16108 MEM, when grown under the same environmental conditions. In adifferent aspect, the progeny plant comprises all of the physiologicaland morphological characteristic of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM ofTables 1 and 2.

In other aspects, the disclosure provides a progeny plant of variety NUN16108 MEM, such as a progeny plant obtained by further breeding withsaid variety. Further breeding with melon variety NUN 16108 MEM includesselfing that variety and/or cross-pollinating said variety with anothermelon plant one or more times. In a particular aspect, the disclosureprovides for a progeny plant that retains all, or all but one, two orthree, of the morphological and physiological characteristics of melonvariety NUN 16108 MEM, optionally all or all but one, two or three ofthe characteristics as listed in Tables 1 and 2, determined at the 5%significance level for numerical characteristics, when grown under thesame environmental conditions. In an aspect, the progeny is a firstgeneration progeny, i.e., the ovule or the pollen (or both) used in thecrossing is an ovule or pollen of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, where thepollen comes from an anther of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM and the ovulecomes from an ovary of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM. In another aspect,the disclosure provides for a vegetative reproduction of melon varietyNUN 16108 MEM, and a plant having all, or all but 1, 2, or 3 of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of melon variety NUN16108 MEM (e.g., as listed in Tables 1 and 2).

The disclosure also provides a method for collecting pollen of melonvariety NUN 16108 MEM, comprising collecting pollen from a plant ofvariety NUN 16108 MEM. Alternatively, the method comprises growing plantof variety NUN 16108 MEM until at least one flower of said varietycontains pollen and collecting the pollen. In a particular aspect, thepollen is collected when it is mature or ripe. A suitable method forcollecting pollen comprises collecting anthers or the part of the antherthat contains pollen, for example, by cutting the anther or the part ofthe anther off. Pollen can be collected in a container. Optionally,collected pollen can be used to pollinate a melon flower.

The morphological and/or physiological differences between two differentindividual plants described herein (e.g., between melon variety NUN16108 MEM and a progeny of said variety) or between a plant of varietyNUN 16108 MEM, or progeny of said variety, or a plant having all, or allbut 1, 2, or 3, of the physiological and morphological characteristicsof melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, and another known variety can easily beestablished by growing said variety under the same environmentalconditions (in the same field, optionally next to each other),preferably repeated in several locations which are suitable forcultivation of melons, and measuring the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of a representative number of plants (e.g., to calculatean average value and to determine the variation range/uniformity withinthe variety). For example, trials can be carried out in Acampo Calif.,USA (N 38 degrees 07′261″/W 121 degrees 18′ 807″, USA), whereby variouscharacteristics, for example, maturity, days from seeding to harvest,plant habit, plant attitude, leaf shape, leaf color, blistering, numbersof flowers per leaf axil, number of calyx lobes, number of petals, fruitgroup, immature fruit color, mature fruit color, pungency, flavor, fruitglossiness, fruit size, fruit shape, average number of fruits per plant,seed size, seed weight, anthocyanin level, disease resistance, insectresistance, can be measured and directly compared for species of melon.Thus, the disclosure comprises a melon plant having one, two or threephysiological and/or morphological characteristics which are differentfrom those of the plant of variety NUN 16108 MEM, and which otherwisehas all the physiological and morphological characteristics of saidvariety, when determined (e.g., at the 5% significance level forquantitative characteristics or determined by type for non-quantitativecharacteristics) for plants grown under the same environmentalconditions. In another aspect, the different characteristic is affectedby a mutation, optionally induced mutation, or by transformation.

The morphological and physiological characteristics of melon variety NUN16108 MEM are provided, for example, in Tables 1 and 2, as collected ina trial according to USDA and/or UPOV standards. Encompassed herein isalso a plant obtainable from melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, (e.g., byselfing and/or crossing and/or backcrossing with said variety and/orprogeny of said variety) comprising all or all but one, two or three ofthe physiological and morphological characteristics of melon variety NUN16108 MEM listed in Tables 1 and 2 (as determined at the 5% significancelevel for numerical characteristics or identical for non-numericalcharacteristics) when grown under the same environmental conditionsand/or comprising one or more (or all; or all except one, two or three)characteristics when grown under the same environmental conditions. Themorphological and/or physiological characteristics may vary somewhatwith variation in the environment (e.g., temperature, light intensity,day length, humidity, soil, fertilizer use, disease vectors), which iswhy a comparison under the same environmental conditions is preferred.Colors can best be measured using the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)Chart.

Also, at-harvest and/or post-harvest characteristics of fruits can becompared, such as cold storage holding quality, post-harvest fleshfirmness, and Brix can be measured using known methods. (Fruit) Fleshfirmness can, for example, be measured using a penetrometer, e.g., byinserting a probe into the fruit flesh and determining the insertionforce, or by other methods. Fruit flesh firmness can for example bemeasured using a “FT 327 Penetrometer”, available from QA Supplies LLC,1185 Pineridge Road, Norfolk, Va. 23502.

The disclosure provides for methods of producing a plant which retainall the morphological and physiological characteristics of a plantdescribed herein. The disclosure also provides for methods of producinga plant comprising all but 1, 2, 3 or more of the morphological andphysiological characteristics of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM (e.g., aslisted in Tables 1 and 2), but which are still genetically closelyrelated to said variety. The relatedness can, for example, be determinedby fingerprinting techniques (e.g., making use of isozyme markers and/ormolecular markers such as Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers,amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers, microsatellites,minisatellites, Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers,restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers and others). Aplant is “closely related” to melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, if its DNAfingerprint is at least 80%, 90%, 95% or 98% identical to thefingerprint of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM. In a particular aspect, AFLPmarkers are used for DNA fingerprinting (see, e.g., Vos et al. 1995,Nucleic Acid Research 23: 4407-4414). A closely related plant may have aJaccard's Similarity index of at least about 0.8, preferably at leastabout 0.9, 0.95, 0.98 or more (see, e.g., Parvathaneni et al., J. CropSci. Biotech. 2011 (March) 14 (1): 39-43). The disclosure also providesa plant obtained or selected by applying these methods on melon varietyNUN 16108 MEM. Such a plant may be produced by traditional breedingtechniques, or mutation or transformation or in another aspect, a plantmay simply be identified and selected amongst plants of said variety, orprogeny of said variety, e.g., by identifying a variant of melon varietyNUN 16108 MEM, which variant differs from the variety described hereinin one, two or three of the morphological and/or physiologicalcharacteristics (e.g., characteristics listed in Tables 1 and 2). In oneaspect, the disclosure provides a plant of variety NUN 16108 MEM, havinga Jaccard's Similarity index with said variety of at least 0.8, e.g., atleast 0.85, 0.9, 0.95, 0.98 or even at least 0.99.

In some aspects, the disclosure provides a melon plant comprisinggenomic DNA having at least 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% sequence identitycompared to the genomic DNA sequence of a plant of variety NUN 16108 MEMas to be deposited under Accession Number NCIMB 43406. In some aspects,the melon plant further comprises all or all but 1, 2, or 3 of themorphological and physiological characteristics of melon variety NUN16108 MEM (e.g., as listed in Tables 1 and 2). In other aspects, themelon plant is a hybrid derived from a seed or plant of variety NUN16108 MEM.

For the purpose of this disclosure, the “sequence identity” ofnucleotide sequences, expressed as a percentage, refers to the number ofpositions in the two optimally aligned sequences which have identicalresidues (×100) divided by the number of positions compared. A gap,i.e., a position in the pairwise alignment where a residue is present inone sequence but not in the other, is regarded as a position withnon-identical residues. A pairwise global sequence alignment of twonucleotide sequences is found by aligning the two sequences over theentire length according to the Needleman and Wunsch global alignmentalgorithm described in Needleman and Wunsch, 1970, J. Mol. Biol.48(3):443-53). A full implementation of the Needleman-Wunsch globalalignment algorithm is found in the needle program in The EuropeanMolecular Biology Open Software Suite (see, e.g., EMBOSS, Rice et al.,Trends in Genetics June 2000, vol. 16, No. 6. pp. 276-277).

The disclosure also provides methods for determining the identity ofparental lines of plants described herein, in particular the identity ofthe female line. US2015/0126380, which is hereby incorporated byreference, relates to a non-destructive method for analyzing maternalDNA of a seed. In this method, the DNA is dislodged from the seed coatsurface and can be used to collect information on the genome of thematernal parent of the seed. This method for analyzing maternal DNA of aseed comprises contacting a seed with a fluid to dislodge DNA from theseed coat surface, and analyzing the DNA thus dislodged from the seedcoat surface using methods known in the art. The skilled person is thusable to determine whether a seed has grown on a plant of a plant ofvariety NUN 16108 MEM, or is a progeny of said variety, because the seedcoat of the seed is a maternal tissue genetically identical to melonvariety NUN 16108 MEM. In one aspect, the disclosure relates to amaternal tissue of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM. In another aspect, thedisclosure relates to a melon seed comprising a maternal tissue of melonvariety NUN 16108 MEM. In another particular aspect, the disclosureprovides a method of identifying the female parental line of melonvariety NUN 16108 MEM by analyzing the seed coat of a seed of thatvariety. In another aspect, the skilled person can determine whether aseed is grown on melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, by analyzing the seed coator another maternal tissue of said seed.

By crossing and/or selfing (one or more) single traits may be introducedinto melon variety NUN 16108 MEM (e.g., using backcrossing breedingschemes), while retaining the remaining morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of said variety and/or while retaining one or more orall distinguishing characteristics. A single trait converted plant maythereby be produced. For example, disease resistance genes may beintroduced, genes responsible for one or more quality traits, yield,etc. Both single genes (e.g., dominant or recessive) and one or moreQTLs (quantitative trait loci) may be transferred into melon variety NUN16108 MEM by breeding with said variety.

Any pest or disease resistance genes may be introduced into melonvariety NUN 16108 MEM, progeny of said variety or into a plantcomprising all but 1, 2, or 3 or more of the morphological andphysiological characteristics of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM (e.g., aslisted in Tables 1 and 2). Resistance to one or more of the followingdiseases or pests may be introduced into plants described herein:Bacterial Wilt, Root Rot, Crown Blight, Melon Rust, Podosphaera xanthii(Sphaerotheca fuliginea) race 1, Podosphaera xanthii (Sphaerothecafuliginea) race 2, Podosphaera xanthii (Sphaerotheca fuliginea) race 3,Podosphaera xanthii (Sphaerotheca fuliginea) race 5, Golovinomycescichoracearum (Erysiphe cichoracearum) race 1, Verticillum Wilt, SulphurBurn, Scab, Downy Mildew, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melonis race 0,Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melonis race 1, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.melonis race 2, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melonis race 1-2, Fusarium WiltR2, Root Knot (Nematode), Anthracnose, Aphid, Pickle Worm, DarklingGround Beetle, Banded Cucumber Beetle, Mite, Western Spotted CucumberBeetle, Melon Leafhopper, Melon Worm, Western Striped Cucumber Beetleand/or Melon Leafminer. Other resistances, against pathogenic viruses(e.g., Melon Necrotic Spot Virus (MNSV) resistance, Cucumber MosaicVirus (CMV), Zucchini Yellow Mosaic Virus (ZYMV), Papaya Ringspot Virus(PRSV), Watermelon Mosaic Virus (WMV), Squash Mosaic Virus (SMV), fungi,bacteria, nematodes, insects, or other pests may also be introduced, orother traits such as Melon Yellowing associated Virus (MYaV) resistanceand Whitefly resistance.

The disclosure also provides a method for developing a melon plant in amelon breeding program, using melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, or its partsas a source of plant breeding material. Suitable plant breedingtechniques are recurrent selection, backcrossing, pedigree breeding,mass selection, mutation breeding and/or genetic marker enhancedselection. In one aspect, the method comprises crossing melon varietyNUN 16108 MEM, or its respective progeny, or a plant comprising all but1, 2, or 3 or more of the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM (e.g., as listed inTables 1 and 2), with a different melon plant, and wherein one or moreoffspring of the crossing are subject to one or more plant breedingtechniques: recurrent selection, backcrossing, pedigree breeding, massselection, mutation breeding and genetic marker enhanced selection (seee.g., Vidavsky and Czosnek, (1998) Phytopathology 88(9): 910-4). Forbreeding methods in general, see, e.g., Principles of Plant Genetics andBreeding, 2007, George Acquaah, Blackwell Publishing, ISBN-13:978-1-4051-3646-4.

The disclosure also provides a plant comprising at least a first set ofthe chromosomes of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, a sample of seed hasbeen deposited under Accession Number NCIMB 43406, optionally furthercomprising a single locus conversion. In another aspect, the singlelocus conversion confers a trait wherein the trait is yield, storage,color, flavor, male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance,pest resistance, disease resistance, environmental stress tolerance,modified carbohydrate metabolism, modified protein metabolism, orripening.

In one aspect, a plant of variety NUN 16108 MEM may also be mutated (bye.g., irradiation, chemical mutagenesis, heat treatment, etc.) andmutated seeds or plants may be selected in order to change one or morecharacteristics of said variety. Methods such as TILLING may be appliedto populations in order to identify mutants. Similarly, melon varietyNUN 16108 MEM may be transformed and regenerated, whereby one or morechimeric genes are introduced into the variety or into a plantcomprising all but 1, 2, 3, or more of the morphological andphysiological characteristics (e.g., as listed in Tables 1 and 2).Transformation can be carried out using standard methods, such asAgrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation or biolistics,followed by selection of the transformed cells and regeneration intoplants. A desired trait (e.g., gene(s) conferring pest or diseaseresistance, or tolerance for protection, etc.) can be introduced intomelon variety NUN 16108 MEM, or progeny of said variety, by transformingsaid variety or progeny of said variety with a transgene that confersthe desired trait, wherein the transformed plant retains all or all butone, two or three of the morphological and/or physiologicalcharacteristics of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, or the progeny of saidvariety, and contains the desired trait. In another aspect, thetransformation or mutation confers a trait wherein the trait is yield,storage properties, color, flavor, male sterility, herbicide tolerance,insect resistance, pest resistance, disease resistance, environmentalstress tolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism, modified proteinmetabolism, ripening, or occurs in the intense gene.

The disclosure also provides a method of producing a melon plant havinga desired trait comprising mutating the plant or plant part melonvariety NUN 16108 MEM and selecting a plant comprising the desiredtrait, wherein the mutated plant retains all or all but one, two orthree of the morphological and physiological characteristics of melonvariety NUN 16108 MEM, optionally as described for each variety inTables 1 and 2, and contains the desired trait and wherein arepresentative sample of seed of said variety has been deposited underAccession Number NCIMB 43406. In a further aspect, the desired trait isyield, storage properties, color, size, flavor, male sterility,herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance, diseaseresistance, environmental stress tolerance, modified carbohydratemetabolism, modified protein metabolism, ripening, or occurs in theintense gene.

In one aspect, the disclosure provides a method for inducing mutation inmelon variety NUN 16108 MEM, comprising:

-   -   a) exposing the seed, plant or plant part or cell of melon        variety NUN 16108 MEM, to a mutagenic compound or to radiation,        wherein a representative sample of seed of said melon variety        has been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB 43406;    -   b) selecting the seed, plant or plant part or cell of melon        variety NUN 16108 MEM, having a mutation; and    -   c) optionally growing and/or multiplying the seed, plant or        plant part or cell of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, having the        mutation.

The disclosure also provides a plant having one, two or threephysiological and/or morphological characteristics which are differentfrom those of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM and which otherwise has allthe physiological and morphological characteristics of said variety,wherein a representative sample of seed of said melon variety has beendeposited under Accession Number NCIMB 43406. In particular, variantsare encompassed which differ from melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, in no,one, two or three of the characteristics mentioned in Tables 1 and 2 areencompassed.

A part of the plant of variety NUN 16108 MEM (or of progeny of saidvariety or of a plant having all physiological and/or morphologicalcharacteristics but one, two or three which are different from those ofsaid variety) encompasses any cells, tissues, organs obtainable from theseedlings or plants, such as but not limited to: a melon fruit or a partthereof, a cutting, hypocotyl, cotyledon, seed coat, pollen and thelike. Such parts can be stored and/or processed further.

The disclosure also provides a plant comprising at least a first set ofthe chromosomes of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, a sample of seed hasbeen deposited under Accession Number NCIMB 43406, optionally furthercomprising a single locus conversion. In another aspect, the singlelocus conversion confers yield, storage properties, color, size, flavor,male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance,disease resistance, environmental stress tolerance, modifiedcarbohydrate metabolism, modified protein metabolism, or ripening.

In one aspect, the disclosure provides a haploid plant and/or a doubledhaploid plant of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, or a plant having all butone, two or three physiological and/or morphological characteristics ofmelon variety NUN 16108 MEM, or progeny of any of these. Haploid anddoubled haploid (DH) plants can, for example, be produced by cell ortissue culture and chromosome doubling agents and regeneration into awhole plant. DH production chromosome doubling may be induced usingknown methods, such as colchicine treatment or the like. In one aspect,the method comprises inducing a cell or tissue culture with a chromosomedoubling agent and regenerating the cells or tissues into a whole plant.

In another aspect, the disclosure comprises a method for making doubledhaploid cells from haploid cells of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM,comprising doubling cells of said variety with a chromosome doublingagent such as colchicine treatment (see, e.g., Nikolova andNiemirowicz-Szczytt (1996) Acta Soc Bot Pol 65:311-317).

In another aspect, the disclosure provides for haploid plants and/ordoubled haploid plants derived from melon variety NUN 16108 MEM that,when combined, make a set of parents of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM. Thehaploid plant and/or the doubled haploid plant of variety NUN 16108 MEMcan be used in a method for generating parental lines of melon varietyNUN 16108 MEM.

Using methods known in the art such as “reverse synthesis of breedinglines” or “reverse breeding”, it is possible to produce parental linesfor a hybrid plant such as melon variety NUN 16108 MEM. A skilled personcan take any individual heterozygous plant (called a “phenotypicallysuperior plant” in Example 2 of US2015/0245570 hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety; melon variety NUN 16108 MEM is such plant)and generate a combination of parental lines (reverse breeding parentallines) that, when crossed, produce the variety NUN 16108 MEM. It is notnecessary that the reverse breeding parental lines are identical to theoriginal parental lines. Such new breeding methods are based on thesegregation of individual alleles in the spores produced by a desiredplant and/or in the progeny derived from the self-pollination of thatdesired plant, and on the subsequent identification of suitable progenyplants in one generation, or in a limited number of inbred cycles. Sucha method is known from US2015/0245570 or from Wijnker et al., NatureProtocols Volume: 9, Pages: 761-772 (2014) DOI:doi:10.1038/nprot.2014.049. Thus, the disclosure provides a method forproducing parental lines for a hybrid organism (e.g., melon variety NUN16108 MEM), comprising in one aspect: a) defining a set of geneticmarkers present in a heterozygous form (H) in a partially heterozygousstarting organism; b) producing doubled haploid lines from spores of thestarting organism; c) genetically characterizing the doubled haploidlines thus obtained for the said set of genetic markers to determinewhether they are present in a first homozygous form (A) or in a secondhomozygous form (B); and d) selecting at least one pair of doubledhaploid lines that have complementary alleles for at least a subset ofthe genetic markers, wherein each member of the pair is suitable as aparental line for the hybrid organism.

In another aspect, the method for producing parental lines for hybridorganisms, e.g., of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, which when crossedreconstitute the genome of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, comprising:

-   -   a) defining a set genetic markers that are present a        heterozygous form (H) in a partially heterozygous starting        organism;    -   b) producing at least one further generation from the starting        organism by self-pollination (e.g., F2 or F3 generation);    -   c) selecting at least one pair of progeny organisms in which at        least one genetic marker from the set is present in a        complementary homozygous forms (B vs. A, or A vs. B); and    -   d) optionally repeating steps b) and c) until at least one pair        of progeny organisms that have complementary alleles for at        least a subset of the genetic markers has been selected as        parental lines for a hybrid.

The disclosure relates to a method of producing a combination ofparental lines of a plant of variety NUN 16108 MEM, comprising makingdoubled haploid cells from haploid cells from said plant or a seed ofthat plant; and optionally crossing these parental lines to produce andcollecting seeds. In another aspect, the disclosure relates to acombination of parental lines produced by this method. In still anotheraspect, the combination of parental lines can be used to produce a seedor plant of variety NUN 16108 MEM, when these parental lines arecrossed. In still another aspect, the disclosure relates to acombination of parental lines from which a seed or plant having allphysiological and/or morphological characteristics of melon variety NUN16108 MEM, (when the characteristics are determined at the 5%significance level for plants grown under the same conditions).

In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of introducing asingle locus conversion or single trait conversion or a desired traitinto melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, comprising:

-   -   a) obtaining a combination of a parental lines of melon variety        NUN 16108 MEM, optionally through reverse synthesis of breeding        lines,    -   b) introducing a single locus conversion in at least one of the        parents of step a; and    -   c) crossing the converted parent with the other parent of step a        to obtain seed of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM.

A combination of a male and a female parental line of NUN 16108 MEM canbe generated by methods described herein, for example, through reversesynthesis of breeding lines.

In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of introducing asingle locus conversion or single trait conversion or a desired traitinto melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, comprising introducing a single locusconversion in at least one of the parents of melon variety NUN 16108MEM, and crossing the converted parent with the other parent of melonvariety NUN 16108 MEM, to obtain seed of said variety.

In another aspect, introducing a single locus conversion in at least oneof the parent plants comprises:

-   -   a) obtaining a cell or tissue culture of cells of the parental        line of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM;    -   b) genetically transforming or mutating said cells;    -   c) growing the cells into a plant; and    -   d) optionally selecting plants that contain the single locus        conversion, the single trait conversion or the desired trait.

In another method, the step of introducing a single locus conversion inat least one of the parents comprises genetically transforming ormutating cells the parental line of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, growingthe cells into a plant; and optionally selecting plants that contain thesingle locus conversion, the single trait conversion or the desiredtrait.

In another embodiment, the step of introducing a single locusconversion, single trait conversion or desired trait in at least one ofthe parent plants comprises:

-   -   a) crossing the parental line of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM,        with a second melon plant comprising the single locus        conversion, the single trait conversion or the desired trait;    -   b) selecting F1 progeny plants that contain the single locus        conversion, the single trait conversion or the desired trait;    -   c) crossing said selected progeny plants of step b) with the        parental line of step a), to produce a backcross progeny plant;    -   d) selecting backcross progeny plants comprising the single        locus conversion, the single trait conversion or the desired        trait and otherwise all or all but one, two or three of the        morphological and physiological characteristics the parental        line of step a) to produce selected backcross progeny plants;        and    -   e) optionally repeating steps c) and d) one or more times in        succession to produce selected second, third or fourth or higher        backcross progeny plants comprising the single locus conversion,        the single trait conversion or the desired trait and otherwise        all or all but one, two or three of the morphological and        physiological characteristics the parental line of step a) to        produce selected backcross progeny plants, when grown in the        same environmental conditions.        The disclosure further relates to plants obtained by this        method.

In any of the above methods, where the single locus conversion concernsa trait, the trait may be yield or pest resistance or diseaseresistance. In one aspect, the trait is disease resistance and theresistance is conferred to Bacterial Wilt, Root Rot, Crown Blight, MelonRust, Podosphaera xanthii (Sphaerotheca fuliginea) race 1, Podosphaeraxanthii (Sphaerotheca fuliginea) race 2, Podosphaera xanthii(Sphaerotheca fuliginea) race 3, Podosphaera xanthii (Sphaerothecafuliginea) race 5, Golovinomyces cichoracearum (Erysiphe cichoracearum)race 1, Verticillum Wilt, Sulphur Burn, Scab, Downy Mildew, Fusariumoxysporum f.sp. melonis race 0, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melonis race 1,Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. melonis race 2, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.melonis race 1-2, Fusarium Wilt R2, Root Knot (Nematode), Anthracnose,Aphid, Pickle Worm, Darkling Ground Beetle, Banded Cucumber Beetle,Mite, Western Spotted Cucumber Beetle, Melon Leafhopper, Melon Worm,Western Striped Cucumber Beetle and/or Melon Leafminer. Otherresistances, against pathogenic viruses (e.g., Melon Necrotic Spot Virus(MNSV) resistance, Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV), Zucchini Yellow MosaicVirus (ZYMV), Papaya Ringspot Virus (PRSV), Watermelon Mosaic Virus(WMV), Squash Mosaic Virus (SMV), fungi, bacteria, nematodes, insects,or other pests may also be introduced, or other traits such as MelonYellowing associated Virus (MYaV) resistance and Whitefly resistance.

The disclosure also provides a combination of parental lines which, whencrossed, produce a seed or plant having all physiological and/ormorphological characteristics of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, but one,two or three characteristics which are different (when grown under thesame environmental conditions), as well as a seed or plant having allphysiological and/or morphological characteristics of melon variety NUN16108 MEM, but one, two or three characteristics which are different(when the characteristics are determined at the 5% significance levelfor plants grown under the same conditions).

In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of determining thegenotype of a plant described herein comprising detecting in the genome(e.g., a sample of nucleic acids) of the plant at least a firstpolymorphism or an allele. The skilled person is familiar with manysuitable methods of genotyping, detecting a polymorphism or detecting anallele including SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) genotyping,restriction fragment length polymorphism identification (RFLP) ofgenomic DNA, random amplified polymorphic detection (RAPD) of genomicDNA, amplified fragment length polymorphism detection (AFLP), polymerasechain reaction (PCR), DNA sequencing, allele specific oligonucleotide(ASO) probes, and hybridization to DNA microarrays or beads.Alternatively, the entire genome could be sequenced. The method may, incertain embodiments, comprise detecting a plurality of polymorphisms inthe genome of the plant, for example by obtaining a sample of nucleicacid from a plant and detecting in said nucleic acids a plurality ofpolymorphisms. The method may further comprise storing the results ofthe step of detecting the plurality of polymorphisms on a computerreadable medium.

The disclosure further provides for food or feed products comprising apart of the plant of variety NUN 16108 MEM, or a part of progeny of saidvariety, or a part of a plant having all but one, two or threephysiological and/or morphological characteristics of melon variety NUN16108 MEM, comprising one or more of such parts, optionally processed(e.g., canned, chopped, cooked, roasted, in a sauce, in a sandwich,pasted, puréed or concentrated, juiced, frozen, dried, pickled, orpowdered).

Melons may also be grown for use as rootstocks (stocks) or scions.Typically, different types of melons are grafted to enhance diseaseresistance, which is usually conferred by the rootstock, while retainingthe horticultural qualities usually conferred by the scion. It is notuncommon for grafting to occur between cultivated melon varieties andrelated melon species. Methods of grafting and vegetative propagationare well-known in the art.

In another aspect, the disclosure provides to a plant comprising arootstock or scion of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM.

All documents (e.g., patent publications) are herein incorporated byreference in their entirety, including the following cited references:

-   UPOV, Guidelines for the Conduct of Tests for Distinctness,    Uniformity and Stability, TG104/5, world-wide web at    upov.int/edocs/tgdocs/en/tg104.pdf.-   US Department of Agriculture, Objective Description of    Variety—Muskmelon/Cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L.)”, world-wide web at    ams.usda.gov/ under services/plant-variety-protection/pvpo-c-forms    under muskmelon.-   Acquaah, Principles of Plant Genetics and Breeding, 2007, Blackwell    Publishing, ISBN-13: 978-1-4051-3646-4-   Colijn-Hooymans, J. C., et. al., “Competence for Regeneration of    Cucumber Cotyledons is Restricted to Specific Developmental Stages”,    Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture, 1994, vol. 39, pp. 211-217.-   Needleman, S. B., et. al., “A General Method Applicable to the    Search for Similarities in the Amino Acid Sequence of Two Proteins”,    Journal of Molecular Biology, 1970, vol. 48(3), pp. 443-53.-   Nikolova, V., et. al., “Diploidization of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus    L.) Haploids by Colchini Treatment”, Acta Societas Botanicorum    Poloniae, 1996, vol. 65, pp. 311-317.-   Parvathaneni, R. K., et al., “Fingerprinting in Cucumber and Melon    (Cucumis spp.) genotypes Using Morphological and ISSR Markers”,    Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology, 2011, vol. 14, no. 1, pp.    39-43. DOI No. 10.1007/s12892-010-0080-1.-   Rice, P., et al., “EMBOSS: The European Molecular Biology Open    Software Suite”, Trends in Genetics, 2000, vol. 16, Issue 6. pp.    276-277.-   Ren, Y., et al., “Shoot Regeneration and Ploidy Variation in Tissue    Culture of Honeydew Melon (Cucumis melo L. inodorus)”, In Vitro    Cellular & Development Biology-Plant, 2013, vol. 49, p. 223-229.-   Vidaysky, F., et. al., “Tomato Breeding Lines Resistant and Tolerant    to Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus Issued from Lycopersicum hirsutum”,    The American Phytopathology Society, 1998, vol. 88, no. 9, pp.    910-914.-   Vos, P., et al., AFLP: A New Technique for DNA Fingerprinting 1995,    Nucleic Acids Research, 1995, vol. 23, No. 21, pp. 4407-4414.-   Wijnker, E., et al., Hybrid Recreation by Reverse breeding in    Arabidopsis thaliana, Nature Protocols, 2014, vol. 9, pp. 761-772.    DOI: doi: 10.1038/nprot.2014.049-   US2015/0126380-   US2015/0245570-   US2017/0071145-   US2017/0240913-   US2017/0335339-   https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/7209.pdf-   https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/7218.pdf-   https://www.ams.usda.gov/resources/st470-muskmelon-   http://www.upov.int/edocs/tgdocs/de/tg104.pdf    Development of Melon Variety NUN 16108 MEM

The hybrid variety NUN 16108 MEM was developed from a male and femaleproprietary inbred line of Nunhems. The female and male parents werecrossed to produce hybrid (F1) seeds of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM. Theseeds of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM can be grown to produce hybridplants and parts thereof (e.g., melon fruit). The hybrid variety NUN16108 MEM can be propagated by seeds or vegetative.

The hybrid variety is uniform and genetically stable. This has beenestablished through evaluation of horticultural characteristics. Severalhybrid seed production events resulted in no observable deviation ingenetic stability. Coupled with the confirmation of genetic stability ofthe respective female and male parents the Applicant has concluded thatmelon variety NUN 16108 MEM is uniform and stable.

Deposit Information

A total of 2500 seeds of the hybrid variety NUN 16108 MEM has beendeposited according to the Budapest Treaty by Nunhems B.V. on Apr. 25,2019, at the NCIMB Ltd., Ferguson Building, Craibstone Estate,Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9YA, United Kingdom (NCIMB). The deposit hasbeen assigned NCIMB number 43406. A deposit of melon variety NUN 16108MEM and of the male and female parent line is also maintained at NunhemsB.V.

Access to the deposits will be available during the pendency of thisapplication to persons determined by the Director of the U.S. PatentOffice to be entitled thereto upon request. Subject to 37 C.F.R. §1.808(b), all restrictions imposed by the depositor on the availabilityto the public of the deposited material will be irrevocably removed uponthe granting of the patent. The deposit will be maintained for a periodof 30 years, or 5 years after the most recent request, or for theenforceable life of the patent whichever is longer and will be replacedif it ever becomes nonviable during that period. Applicant does notwaive any rights granted under this patent on this application or underthe Plant Variety Protection Act (7 U.S.C. § 2321 et seq).

Characteristics of Melon Variety NUN 16108 MEM

The most similar variety to NUN 16108 MEM refers to variety NUN 26191MEM, a variety from Nunhems B.V., with commercial name Sense 191.

In Tables 1 and 2, a comparison between melon variety NUN 16108 MEM andthe Reference Variety are shown based on a trial in the USA. Triallocation: Acampo, Calif., USA; Seeding date: Jun. 13, 2019; Harvestingdate: Sep. 5, 2019. In Table 3, the distinguishing characteristicsbetween melon variety NUN 16108 MEM and the Reference Variety are shown.

One replication of 30 plants per variety, from which at least 15 plantsor plant parts were randomly selected and were used to measurecharacteristics. For numerical characteristics, averages werecalculated. For non-numerical characteristics, the type/degree weredetermined.

In one aspect, the disclosure provides a plant having the physiologicaland morphological characteristics of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM aspresented in Tables 1 and 2.

TABLE 1 Objective description of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM and theReference Variety (USDA Descriptors) NUN 16108 NUN 26191 CharacteristicsMEM MEM Type: Golden Golden 1 = Persian; 2 = Honey Dew; CantaloupeCantaloupe 3 = Casaba; 4 = Crenshaw; 5 = Long Long Common/Summer; 6 =Other Shelf Life Shelf Life Area of best adaptation in USA: Arizona,Arizona, 1 = Southeast; 2 = Northeast/North California CaliforniaCentral; 3 = Southwest; 4 = Most Areas; 5 = East coast Maturity: 90 days90 days Days from seeding to harvest Plant: Fertility: MonoeciousMonoecious 1 = Andromonoecious; 2 = Monoecious; 3 = Gynoecious; 4 =Other Habit: Vine Vine 1 = Vine; 2 = Semi-bush; 3 = Bush Leaf (matureblade of third leaf): Shape: Reniform Reniform 1 = Orbicular; 2 = Ovate;3 = Reniform (Cordate) Lobes: Not lobed Not lobed 1 = Not Lobed; 2 =Shallowly Lobed; 3 = Deeply Lobed Color: Dark green Dark green 1 = LightGreen (Honey Dew); 2 = Medium Green; 3 = Dark Green (Rio Gold) ColorChart Code (RHS chart): RHS 137B RHS N137B Average Length (mm): 13.51 mm12.81 mm Average Width (mm): 16.31 mm 15.37 mm Surface: ScabrousScabrous 1 = Pubescent; 2 = Glabrous; 3 = Scabrous Fruit (at ediblematurity: Average Length (cm): 15.48 cm 16.21 cm Average Diameter (cm):14.34 cm 13.75 cm Average Weight (gram): 1,748.80 g 1,612.67 g Shape:Oval Oval 1 = Oblate; 2 = Oval; 3 = Round; 4 = Elongate-Cylindrical; 5 =Spindle; 6 = Acorn Surface: Netted Netted 1 = Smooth; 2 = Netted; 3 =Corrugated; 4 = Warted Blossom Scar: Conspicuous Conspicuous 1 =Obscure; 2 = Conspicuous Rib Presence: Absent Absent 1 = Absent; 2 =Present Suture Depth: Very shallow Very shallow 1 = Shallow (GoldenDelight); 2 = Medium; 3 = Deep (Hackensack) Suture Surface: NettedNetted 1 = Smooth; 2 = Netted Shipping Quality: Excellent Excellent 1 =Poor (Home Garden); 2 = Fair (Short Distance Shipping); 3 = Excellent(Long Distance Shipping) Fruit Abscission: When overripe When overripe 1= When Ripe; 2 = When Overripe; 3 = Do Not Abscise Rind Net: NetPresence: Sparse Sparse 1 = Absent; 2 = Sparse; 3 = AbundantDistribution: Covers entire Covers entire 1 = Spotty; 2 = Covers EntireFruit fruit fruit Coarseness: Medium Medium 1 = Fine; 2 = Medium Coarse;3 = Very Coarse Interlacing: Complete Complete 1 = None; 2 = Some; 3 =Complete Interstices: Medium deep Medium deep 1 = Shallow; 2 = MediumDeep; 3 = Deep Rind Texture: Texture: Soft Soft 1 = Soft; 2 = Firm; 3 =Hard Average Thickness at Medial (mm) 44.38 mm 42.14 mm Rind Color: 01 -White; 02 = Cream; 03 = Buff; 05 = Gold; 06 = Green; 08 = Bronze; 09 =Brown; 10 = Gray; 11 = Black; 12 = Other Rind Color at Edible Maturity:Primary Color (Color Chart Value) Yellow Yellow RHS 153B RHS 153C NetColor (Color Chart Value) White Yellowish RHS NN155B white RHS NN155AFlesh (at edible maturity) Color Near Cavity (Color Chart Red Red Value)RHS 173C RHS 173B Color in Center (Color Chart Value) Red Red RHS N172BRHS N172A Color Near Rind (Color Chart Red Red Value) RHS N172B RHSN172A Refractometer % Soluble Solids 16.57% 16.89% (Center of Flesh)Aroma: Absent Absent 1 = Absent; 2 = Faint; 3 = Strong Flavor: Mild Mild1 = Mild; 2 = Somewhat Spicy; 3 = Very Spicy Seed Cavity: Length (mm):102.58 mm 108.13 mm Width (mm): 53.57 mm 58.32 mm Shape in X-Section:Circular Circular 1 = Circular; 2 = Triangular Seeds: No. of seeds perfruit 1,198 927

TABLE 2 Objective description of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM and theReference Variety (Non-USDA Descriptors) NUN 16108 NUN 26191Characteristics MEM MEM Leaf (mature blade of third leaf): Developmentof lobes: Weak to medium Weak to medium Weak, Medium, Strong Length ofterminal lobe: Short to medium Short to medium Short, Medium, LongDentation of margin: Very weak to Very weak to Weak, Medium, Strong weakweak Blistering: Weak to medium Weak to medium Weak, Medium, StrongSize: Medium Medium Small, Medium, Large Petiole attitude: Semi-erectSemi-erect Erect, Semi-erect, Horizontal Petiole length, cm: 100.15 cm110.25 cm Petiole width, mm: 5.81 mm 6.47 mm Young fruit (unripe fruit,before the color change): Hue of green color of skin: Yellowish greenYellowish green Whitish green, Yellowish green, Green, Greyish greenLength of peduncle, mm: 46.95 mm 41.29 mm Thickness of peduncle, mm:10.76 mm 11.32 mm Extension of darker area around Absent or very Absentor very peduncle: small small Absent or very small, Small, Medium, LargeFruit (at edible maturity): Change of skin color from Late in fruit Latein fruit young fruit to maturity: development development Early in fruitdevelopment, Late in fruit development, Very late in fruit developmentPosition of maximum diameter: At middle At middle Toward stem end, atmiddle, toward blossom end Shape in longitudinal section: Broad ellipticBroad elliptic Ovate, Medium elliptic, Broad elliptic, Circular,Quadrangular, Oblate, Obovate, Elongated Shape of base: Rounded RoundedPointed, rounded, truncate Shape of apex: Rounded Rounded Pointed,rounded, truncate Blossom scar diameter, mm: 15.24 mm 20.61 mm Size ofpistil scar: Small to medium Medium Small, medium, large Grooves: Absentor weakly Absent or weakly Absent or weakly expressed, expressedexpressed weakly expressed, strongly expressed Width of grooves: NarrowNarrow Narrow, Medium, Broad Color of grooves: Yellow Yellow White,Yellow, Green Creasing of surface: Absent or very Absent or very Absentor very weak, weak, weak weak medium, strong, very strong Corkformation: Present Present Absent, present Thickness of cork layer:Medium to thick Medium to thick Very thin, thin, medium, thick, verythick Pattern of cork formation: Netted only Netted only Dots only, dotsand linear, linear only, linear and netted, netted only Density ofpattern of cork Dense Dense formation: Rind color: Ground color of skin:Yellow Yellow White, yellow, green, gray Intensity of ground color ofskin: Light to medium Light to medium Light, medium, dark Density ofdots: Absent or very Absent or very Absent or very sparse, sparse,sparse sparse medium, dense, very dense Density of patches: Very smallVery small Absent or very sparse, sparse, medium, dense, very denseWarts: Absent Absent Absent, present Flesh (at edible maturity):Penetrometer, kg: 3.94 kg 2.73 kg Firmness: Soft Firm Soft, Medium, FirmSeeds: Seed shape: Not pine nut Not pine nut Not pine-nut shape,pine-nut shape Seed color: Creamy yellow Creamy yellow Whitish, creamyyellow Maturity: Time of male flowering: Medium Medium Early, Medium,Late Time of female flowering: Medium Medium Early, Medium, Late Time ofripening: Late Late Very early, Early, Medium, Late, Very late

TABLE 3 Distinguishing Characteristics between melon variety NUN 16108MEM and the Reference Variety NUN NUN Characteristics 16108 MEM 26191MEM Leaf (mature blade of third leaf): Average Length (mm): 13.51 mm12.81 mm Average Width (mm): 16.31 mm 15.37 mm Petiole length, cm:100.15 cm 110.25 cm Petiole width, mm: 5.81 mm 6.47 mm Young fruit(unripe fruit, before the color change): Length of peduncle, mm: 46.95mm 41.29 mm Fruit (at edible maturity): Average Length (cm): 15.48 cm16.21 cm Average Diameter (cm): 14.34 cm 13.75 cm Average Weight (gram):1,748.80 g 1,612.67 g Blossom scar diameter, mm: 15.24 mm 20.61 mmAverage Thickness at Medial (mm) 44.38 mm 42.14 mm Size of pistil scar:Small to Medium Small, medium, large medium Rind color: Primary ColorYellow Yellow (Color Chart Value) RHS 153B RHS 153C Net Color WhiteYellowish white (Color Chart Value) RHS NN155B RHS NN155A Flesh (atedible maturity): Color Near Cavity Red Red (Color Chart Value) RHS 173CRHS 173B Color in Center Red Red (Color Chart Value) RHS N172B RHS N172AColor Near Rind Red Red (Color Chart Value) RHS N172B RHS N172APenetrometer kg: 3.94 kg 2.73 kg Seed Cavity: Length (mm): 102.58 mm108.13 mm Width (mm): 53.57 mm 58.32 mm Seeds: No. of seeds per fruit1.198 927

The invention claimed is:
 1. A plant, plant part or seed of melonvariety NUN 16108 MEM, wherein a representative sample of seed of saidmelon variety has been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB
 43406. 2.The plant part of claim 1, wherein said plant part is a leaf, pollen, anovule, a cell, a fruit, a scion, a root, a rootstock, a cutting, or aflower.
 3. A seed that produces the plant of claim
 1. 4. A seed grown onthe plant of claim 1, wherein the plant grown from said seed does notdiffer from the plant of claim 1 when the characteristics are determinedat the 5% significance level when grown under the same environmentalconditions.
 5. A melon plant having all of the physiological andmorphological characteristics of the plant of claim
 1. 6. A melon plantor a part thereof derived from the plant of claim 1 which does notdiffer from the plant of claim 1 in any of the characteristics of melonvariety NUN 16108 MEM, when the characteristics are determined at the 5%significance level when grown under the same environmental conditions,wherein a representative sample of seed of melon variety NUN 16108 MEMhas been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB
 43406. 7. A tissue orcell culture comprising regenerable cells of the plant of claim
 1. 8.The tissue or cell culture according to claim 7, comprising cells orprotoplasts from a plant part suitable for vegetative reproduction,wherein the plant part is an embryo, a meristem, a fruit, a leaf,pollen, an ovule, a cell, a petiole, a shoot, a stem, a root, a roottip, a cutting, a hypocotyl, a cotyledon, a scion, a stock, a rootstock,a pistil, an anther, a flower, a seed, a stem, or a stalk.
 9. A melonplant regenerated from the tissue or cell culture of claim 7, whereinthe plant has all of the physiological and morphological characteristicsof the plant of variety NUN 16108 MEM, when the characteristics aredetermined at the 5% significance level for plants grown under the sameenvironmental conditions, and wherein a representative sample of seed ofsaid melon variety has been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB43406.
 10. A method of producing the plant claim 1 or a part thereof,said method comprising vegetative propagation of at least a part of theplant of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, wherein a representative sample ofseed of said melon variety has been deposited under Accession NumberNCIMB
 43406. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein said vegetativepropagation comprises regenerating a whole plant from said part of theplant of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, wherein a representative sample ofseed of said melon variety has been deposited under Accession NumberNCIMB
 43406. 12. The method of claim 10, wherein said part is a cutting,a cell culture, or a tissue culture.
 13. A vegetative propagated plantof claim 1, or a part thereof, wherein the vegetative propagated planthas all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of theplant of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, when the characteristics aredetermined at the 5% significance level for plants grown under the sameenvironmental conditions, and wherein a representative sample of seed ofsaid melon variety has been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB43406.
 14. A method of producing a melon plant, said method comprisingcrossing the plant of claim 1 with a second plant at least once, andselecting a progeny melon plant from said crossing and optionallyallowing the progeny melon plant to form seed.
 15. A first generationprogeny plant of the plant of claim 1, obtained by selfing orcross-pollinating the plant of claim 1 with another melon plant, whereinsaid progeny plant has all of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of the plant of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, when thecharacteristics are determined at the 5% significance level for plantsgrown under the same environmental conditions, and wherein arepresentative sample of seed of said melon variety has been depositedunder Accession Number NCIMB
 43406. 16. A melon plant derived from theplant of claim 1 having one physiological or morphologicalcharacteristic which is different from the plant of claim 1, and whichotherwise has all the physiological and morphological characteristics ofthe plant of melon variety NUN 16108 MEM, when the characteristics aredetermined at the 5% significance level for plants grown under the sameenvironmental conditions, wherein a representative sample of seed ofsaid melon variety has been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB43406.
 17. The plant of claim 1, further comprising a single locusconversion, wherein said plant has all of the morphological andphysiological characteristics of the plant of melon variety NUN 16108MEM, when the characteristics are determined at the 5% significancelevel for plants grown under the same environmental conditions, andwherein a representative sample of seed of said melon variety has beendeposited under Accession Number NCIMB 43406, optionally wherein thesingle locus conversion confers male sterility, herbicide tolerance,insect resistance, pest resistance, disease resistance, environmentalstress tolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism, modified proteinmetabolism, or ripening.
 18. A method of producing doubled haploid cellsof the plant of claim 1, said method comprising making double haploidcells from haploid cells from the plant or seed of melon variety NUN16108 MEM, wherein a representative sample of seed of said melon varietyhas been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB
 43406. 19. A method ofgrafting the scion or rootstock of the plant of melon variety NUN 16108MEM, said method comprising attaching tissue from the scion or rootstockof claim 2 to the tissue of a second plant, and optionally regeneratinga plant therefrom.
 20. A container comprising the plant, plant part orseed of claim
 1. 21. A food, or a feed product, or a processed productcomprising the plant part of claim 2, wherein the plant part is a fruitor a part thereof.
 22. A method of producing a melon plant having adesired trait, said method comprising mutating a plant of melon varietyNUN 16108 MEM and selecting a mutated plant with a desired trait,wherein the mutated plant contains the desired trait and retains all ofthe physiological and morphological characteristics of melon variety NUN16108 MEM, when the characteristics are determined at the 5%significance level for plants grown under the same environmentalconditions, and wherein a representative sample of seed of said melonvariety has been deposited under Accession Number NCIMB 43406, andwherein the desired trait is male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insectresistance, pest resistance, disease resistance, environmental stresstolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism, modified proteinmetabolism, or ripening.